Sylvester Stallone is getting introspective about John Rambo. He just finished filming the upcoming Rambo V: Last Blood, with that title heavily suggesting the end of the franchise. So it's understandable that he took a second to reflect on the long journey to this point:

Well that was it, that was my final shot [on] Rambo 5: Last Blood, at least that's what they are calling it, thus far. And it's been an amazing journey, it really has. This character was presented to me in 1980. And no one wanted to do it. As a matter of fact, I was the eleventh choice. People looked at this as almost as a cursed project. I looked at it and said this was an amazing opportunity.

Never bet against Sly! Sylvester Stallone has made a career out of playing the underdog. Before Rambo, he rose to fame with Rocky, picking up two Oscar nominations for that first film -- Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay. People keep underestimating him, and he only seems to thrive under that pressure.

Sly Stallone is now 72, but he worked out hard for his return to play John Rambo. Now that his work is complete, he waxed nostalgic in an Instagram video to fans:

Do you think he was suggesting that they may change the title from Rambo V: Last Blood to something else? The first film came out in 1982, called First Blood, based on the 1972 novel by David Morrell. It was a massive hit, making $125.2 million off a reported $15 million budget. The name "Rambo" was only added to subsequent films, starting with Rambo: First Blood Part II, which was released in 1985. That was followed by Rambo III in 1988, and Rambo in 2008.

Now Vietnam veteran John Rambo will return for what may be his final film. The first photos from Rambo V showed Sylvester Stallone's character with more of a cowboy look than we're used to, but that apparently fits with the new plot.

According to a Screen Daily report from back in May, the fifth film finds Rambo troubled with PTSD, living in a ranch in Arizona, picking up work where he can. When longtime family friend Maria (Adriana Barraza) tells Rambo her granddaughter has gone missing after heading into Mexico for a party, Rambo joins Maria to find the girl. The film reportedly includes John Rambo going up against a deadly Mexican cartel led by Hugo Martinez (Sergio Peris-Mencheta).

Sylvester Stallone recently said he was done playing Rocky after Creed II, and if this is really Last Blood then he may also be done as Rambo. In another recent Instagram post, Sly said he was filming on Thanksgiving -- presumably for Rambo V -- and promised his family it was the last Thanksgiving he would miss. That message -- and this new one with its nostalgic tone -- may be a hint that he's ready to scale back.

The new year should not only bring us Rambo V, Sylvester Stallone also has Escape Plan 3: Devil's Station expected in 2019, too. Here's what's still ahead on screens for 2018, and what we know is coming in 2019.